Demons of Bourbon Street by Deanna Chase Read Free Book Online

lurched. I groped to clutch something. Anything to make the spinning stop. Abruptly, the chaos ended. I found myself back in Lucien’s kitchen, my fingernails clawing at the shiny table.
I blinked and relaxed my fingers.
Lailah stared at me, mouth open. “You…”
“ What?” I stiffened.
“ Why were you in my memory?” She stood, anger streaming off her. “Can’t you do anything right? I told you to invoke the memory charm, not modify it or spell it. Geez, Jade. Keep your magic to yourself next time. Who knows what kind of lasting effect this will have.”
“ Excuse me?” I rose and met her toe to toe. Last week, as the leader of the New Orleans coven, I’d been tasked to reinstate Lailah’s magical ability. She’d been in a magical time out after she’d accidentally poisoned Bea. Unfortunately, I’d gotten a little overzealous and ended up sharing part of my magical spark with Lailah. That’s what caused our psychic connection. Believe me, it wasn’t a mistake I was likely to make again. “The only magic I used was to light the match. If the charm went wrong, it’s on you. All I did was what you asked. Nothing more, nothing less.”
“ The potion worked. You were there. My memory came roaring back…to you.” She stepped forward and pointed a finger at me. “All I got out of it was your thoughts!” Her voice rose until she was almost shouting.
Blood rushed to my ears, and I took a step back before the altercation became physical. I clenched my fists to keep from turning her finger into a pretzel.
“ Problem?” Lucien asked from the arched doorway.
“ Oh, no. Nothing at all,” Lailah mocked. “Except your coven leader messed up a basic memory retrieval charm.” She paused, eyeing me. If you spent less time in Kane’s bed, you’d have more time to learn your job .
“ What did you say?” I cried.
“ You heard me.” She tossed her honey-blond hair and left the room.
I had to do something about our psychic connection. Soon. Sensing emotions was one thing, but direct thoughts? Not acceptable. Especially when the person in question clearly didn’t like me, just as much as I didn’t like her.
Lucien picked up the glass bowl and carried it to a utility sink near the back door. He dumped out the contents and went to work on sterilizing it. “What happened with the memory charm?”
I stared out the window at the fading afternoon sun. “Something odd.”
He chuckled. “Something’s always odd when you’re involved.”
I shrugged. “I guess so, but this was different. I only used magic to light a match and that was before I even stated my intentions. I don’t see how I ended up sucked into Lailah’s memory. Or how Philip managed to force me out.”
Footsteps caught my attention. I glanced back and a wave of relief washed through me. Kane. The man had a way of putting me at ease just by being present. “Where’s Kat?” I asked.
“ Talking Lailah down.” He draped an arm around my waist. “Want to fill me in?”
Lucien placed the now-clean bowl back into the cabinet and motioned for us to follow him outside. The balmy November air warmed my skin, but when Lucien’s expression turned grave, my limbs turned to ice.
He locked his green eyes on mine, intense and worried. “I think Lailah’s been possessed again.”
 

Chapter 5
     
Before my brain processed what Lucien said, Kane spoke. “What makes you think that?”
“ Jade infiltrated her memory. The breach suggests a weakening in her aura. With her memory loss, I’m almost certain she’s been compromised.”
“ Meri’s back?” I breathed, clutching Kane’s arm. He tensed, and I tightened my grip. I’d just gotten him back from her clutches. I wouldn’t let her have him again.
“ Not necessarily. But the only being strong enough to penetrate an angel’s aura is a demon or another angel.”
“ Philip?” My eyes widened.
Why couldn’t angels be good? Was nothing sacred?
Lucien shook his head. “Probably not. We don’t